When it comes to take-out, I love Thai. While the light, fresh personality of Thailand’s cuisine makes my mouth water, it’s the underlying spiciness that really turns my corkscrew.

The sweet, sour and citrusy elements make choosing a beverage to wash down your Pad Thai about as easy as sitting through an episode of Glee. One golden rule of food and wine pairing is: When in doubt pick juice made in the same country as your meal.

Thailand’s not much of a wine producer, so a glass of lager beer is the perfect partner. That said, an aromatic and peppery white like one made with the gewürztraminer grape is also a natural pick.

Produced in Germany, the 2009 Badischer Winzerkeller Gewürztraminer ($10.76 – $13.29) is a thirst quencher with flowery aromas and off-dry, baked pear and lychee fruit flavours supported by a backbone of white pepper.

Prices reflect the range across the country. Some products may not be available in all provinces.

Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and travelling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.